MINUTES

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING

October 21, 2010

7:15 P.M.

• Call Meeting to Order/Roll Call:  Council President Kim Diddio called the

meeting to order at 7:15 pm.  Borough Manager Barbara Quarantello called roll.  Present were President Diddio, Vice President Neil Allen, Council Members Joanne Kochanksi, Eric Scelza, Matt Abell, and Boyd Weiss.  Absent was Council Member Jeff Ewen.  Also present were Mayor Charles Baughman and Solicitor Ralph Matergia.

• Monthly Administrative Reports:  Motion by Mr. Allen, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the Monthly Administrative Reports.  Motion passed unanimously.

·                 Public Hearing on a Proposed Ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg regulating display of parking permits and residential permits in vehicles: The hearing was opened and closed at 7:16 pm with no public comment.

·                 Adoption of Proposed Ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg regulating display of parking permits and residential permits in vehicles: Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski, to adopt the proposed ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg regulating display of parking permits and residential permits in vehicles.  Motion passed unanimously.

·                 Public Hearing on a Proposed Ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg establishing a handicapped parking space in front of 813 Thomas Street: The hearing was opened and closed at 7:17 pm with no public comment. 

·                 Adoption of Proposed Ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg establishing a handicapped parking space in front of 813 Thomas Street: Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell, to adopt a proposed Ordinance of the Borough of Stroudsburg establishing a handicapped parking space in front of 813 Thomas Street.  Motion passed unanimously.

·                 Adoption of Resolution authorizing execution of the Occupancy License Agreement between the Borough of Stroudsburg and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection:  Mr. Matergia explained that this is an agreement between the Borough and the PA DEP to bore underneath the levee for the sewage treatment plant expansion to install piping.  The agreement is needed to obtain various permits. The levee will not be compromised in any way.   Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Abell, to adopt a resolution authorizing execution of the Occupancy License Agreement between the Borough of Stroudsburg and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.  Motion passed unanimously.

• Public Input

John O’Connell inquired if council would be interested in changing our zoning ordinance to allow mobile food carts in the borough.  Council was not in favor of any ordinance change. 

• Approval of the Council Meeting Minutes from October 6, 2010:  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the council meeting minutes from October 6, 2010.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• Treasurer’s Reports – September 2010:  Motion by Mr. Allen, second by Mr. Abell, to accept the September 2010 Treasurer’s Reports.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• New Business

a.               Discuss letter dated October 6, 2010, from Joe Shay regarding his re-appointment as a Board member to the Brodhead Creek Regional Authority Board:  Being Mr. Shay does not need to be reappointed until January council decided to table this until then. 

b.               2009 Annual Report from Historic Architectural Review Board:  Mr. Weiss questioned Mr. Matergia in regards to neglected buildings in the historical district.  Mr. Matergia will review the report, get together with the zoning/codes officer, and report back to council at a future meeting.  Motion by Mr. Abell, second by Mrs. Kochanski to table this until after Mr. Matergia’s review.  Motion passed unanimously.

c.               Consider request from Penn DOT to utilize Ann Street and South Tenth Street as an “emergency only detour route” for incidents on Route 80 westbound during the Seventh Street Bridge replacement project:  Mrs. Quarantello had a meeting with PennDOT and our emergency responders who suggested Ann Street and S. Tenth Street as the “emergency only detour route” due to past experience.  It is easier to control traffic along that route.  Mr. Weiss questioned who will direct the traffic and who will be responsible for any infrastructure damage to the road due to the weight of the additional volume of traffic.  Mr. Matergia stated a discussion needs to take place with PennDOT establishing weight limits, which should be done by ordinance.  He also stated our engineer should look at the route and determine the pre-construction conditions, evaluate what the engineer believes are the risks to the streets by the additional weight, and then have the engineer come up with a reasonable weight limit.  Mrs. Quarantello stressed the urgency of the adoption of this plan due to time constraints.  Mrs. Quarantello will arrange a meeting with PennDOT.  Mr. Weiss expressed interest in attending.  Mr. Weiss also stated that oversized loads coming through the borough are not escorted by police.  He is concerned with possible damage to our streets, curbs, and sidewalks.  Mrs. Quarantello stated they are supposed to contact the Monroe County Control Center who then contacts us. 

• Solicitor’s Report: None

• Mayor’s Report:  Mr. Baughman stated that the recent paving job on lower Main Street is looking good. 

• Councilmember’s’ Reports

Ms. Diddio asked council to set a date for a special workshop meeting to discuss the Main Street Overlay District and the Mixed Use District.  Council decided upon Wednesday, November 17^th at 6 pm.  Staff will advertise the meeting.  

• Manager’s Report

Mrs. Quarantello stated our engineer suggests replacing the deteriorating curbs at the corner of Bryant and Huston, and Collins and Stokes, when we do the proposed paving project on Huston and Collins at an additional approximate cost of  $2,480.00.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the additional cost for the curb replacement.  Motion passed unanimously. 

At this time Mr. Weiss reported there are some areas along Ann Street that the curbs are so destroyed that when salt is put down it goes right in the tree wells. 

Mrs. Quarantello received a request for payment from Bruce George Paving and Excavating for the South Stroudsburg Storm Sewer Project in the amount of $70,480.82.  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the payment.  Motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Quarantello received a request from the Christian Mission Church to use the Third Street Park this Saturday and have the park rental fee waived.  Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission is fine with the waiver but suggests taking a refundable security deposit to cover any potential damage.    The church does have liability insurance and is aware that they have to supply their own electricity.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to approve the request of the Christian Mission Church.  Motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Quarantello received a request for a Veteran’s Day Event on November 6, 2010 in Courthouse Square asking that streets be barricaded at Courthouse Square and Monroe, Monroe and Seventh, and at the beginning of the Square.  The event will begin at 11 am and take approximately 90 minutes.   The Veteran’s association will need to get in contact with Tim Ace to coordinate the drop off of barricades.  The Veteran’s Association will be responsible for putting them up and taking them down.  Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Abell, to approve the request for the Veteran’s Day Event.  Motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Quarantello reported that the borough received a dividend check from Keystone Municipal Insurance Trust for a good workman’s comp experience rating. 

• Approval of Bills on Warrant 102110:  Motion by Mr. Weiss, second by Mr. Allen, to approve the bills on Warrant 102110.  Motion passed unanimously. 

• Adjournment: Motion by Mrs. Kochanski, second by Mr. Scelza, to adjourn at 7:55 pm.